The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued a strong advisory for Indian citizens planning to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through private tour operators, warning them not to begin their journey unless they have obtained all the necessary Chinese travel permits and visas.
The advisory follows multiple reports of Indian pilgrims being stranded in Nepal after travelling without the required documentation to enter China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The government has urged travellers to verify the credentials of private tour operators before booking their pilgrimage.
MEA warns against travelling with incomplete documents
According to Livemint, in its advisory, the MEA said it had received several requests for assistance from Indian citizens who were unable to proceed with the pilgrimage after reaching Nepal without valid Chinese entry permits or visas.
The ministry cautioned that commencing the journey in the hope that travel documents would be issued later significantly increases the risk of being stranded. Pilgrims have been advised to ensure that every mandatory document has been secured before leaving India.
The advisory also stresses that travellers should confirm that the private operator organising the pilgrimage is properly registered and authorised to conduct the tour.
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Dozens of Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal
According to Livemint, the warning comes amid reports that around 52 Indian pilgrims are currently stranded in Kathmandu after being unable to obtain the necessary Chinese travel approvals.
The issue was highlighted by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, who appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian diplomatic missions in Nepal and China to provide immediate assistance.
She urged authorities to intervene and facilitate the safe onward journey of the affected pilgrims, whose travel plans have been disrupted because of documentation issues.
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Different rules apply for government and private routes
The process of obtaining Chinese travel documents differs depending on the route chosen for the pilgrimage.
According to Livemint, pilgrims travelling through the official Government of India routes via Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand or Nathu La in Sikkim do not need to arrange Chinese permits independently. Once selected by the MEA, the required documentation is processed through official government channels.
However, those opting for the Nepal route through private operators must ensure that their organisers have already secured all mandatory Chinese travel approvals, including the required Chinese Group Visa where applicable.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumed in 2025 after a gap of nearly five years following improvements in India-China relations. The pilgrimage had been suspended in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was subsequently affected by the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
With the 2026 pilgrimage now underway, the MEA has made it clear that careful planning and complete documentation are essential to avoid travel disruptions.
